A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

A Tale of Two Cities is one of Charles Dickens's most exciting novels. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it tells the story of a family threatened by the terrible events of the past. Doctor Manette was wrongly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years without trial by the aristocratic authorities.

David Copperfield

Based in part on Dickens's own life, it is the story of a young man's journey from an unhappy and impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist. Among its gloriously vivid cast of characters, he e.ncounters his tyrannical stepfather, Mr. Murdstone; his formidable aunt, Betsey Trotwood; the eternally humble yet treacherous Uriah Heep; the frivolous, enchanting Dora; and one of literature's great comic creations, the magnificently impecunious Mr. Micawber.

Pride and Prejudice

One of Jane Austen’s most beloved works, Pride and Prejudice, is vividly brought to life by Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl). In her bright and energetic performance of this British classic, she expertly captures Austen’s signature wit and tone. Her attention to detail, her literary background, and her performance in the 2005 feature film version of the novel provide the perfect foundation from which to convey the story of Elizabeth Bennett, her four sisters, and the inimitable Mr. Darcy.

A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry

A Signature Performance: Tim Curry rescues Charles Dickens from the jaws of Disney with his one-of-a-kind performance of the treasured classic. Our listeners loved this version so much that it inspired our whole line of Signature Classics.

Bleak House

A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.

Great Expectations (AmazonClassics Edition)

Raised in squalor in the marsh country of Kent, the orphan Pip is taken under the wing of the eccentric and reclusive Miss Havisham - only to blindly give his heart to the dowager's beautiful but ice-cold adopted daughter, Estella. Even as a mysterious benefactor helps to shape Pip's life into one of fortune, success, and self-discovery, the unspeakable secrets of his unrequited love continue to haunt him - and promise to change his life once again.

Jane Eyre

Following Jane from her childhood as an orphan in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Charlotte Brontë's Gothic classic is an early exploration of women's independence in the mid-19th century and the pervasive societal challenges women had to endure. At Thornfield, Jane meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester, with whom she shares a complicated relationship that ultimately forces her to reconcile the conflicting passions of romantic love and religious piety.

Anna Karenina

Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

Moby-Dick

Labeled variously a realistic story of whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict, Moby Dick is first and foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey.

Mansfield Park

Shy, fragile Fanny Price is the consummate "poor relation". Sent to live with her wealthy uncle Thomas, she clashes with his spoiled, selfish daughters and falls in love with his son. Their lives are further complicated by the arrival of a pair of witty, sophisticated Londoners, whose flair for flirtation collides with the quiet, conservative country ways of Mansfield Park.

The Three Musketeers

This historical romance, perhaps the greatest cloak-and-sword story ever, relates the adventures of four fictional swashbuckling heroes who served the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV. When the dashing young D'Artagnon arrives in Paris from Gascony, he becomes embroiled in three duels with the Three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. But when he proves himself by fighting not against, but with, the Three Musketeers, they form a quick and lasting friendship.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby....

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

A natural storyteller and raconteur in his own right - just listen to Paddle Your Own Canoe and Gumption - actor, comedian, carpenter, and all-around manly man Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) brings his distinctive baritone and a fine-tuned comic versatility to Twain's writing. In a knockout performance, he doesn't so much as read Twain's words as he does rejoice in them, delighting in the hijinks of Tom - whom he lovingly refers to as a "great scam artist" and "true American hero".

Dracula [Audible Edition]

The modern audience hasn't had a chance to truly appreciate the unknowing dread that readers would have felt when reading Bram Stoker's original 1897 manuscript. Most modern productions employ campiness or sound effects to try to bring back that gothic tension, but we've tried something different. By returning to Stoker's original storytelling structure - a series of letters and journal entries voiced by Jonathan Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, and other characters - with an all-star cast of narrators, we've sought to recapture its originally intended horror and power.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

This novel is indeed a morality tale about the hazards of egotistical self-indulgence. Dorian Grey's pact with evil allows his portrait to take on his many sins and degradations while his physical appearance remains youthful. Over the years as he becomes cruel and vicious, even murderous, Dorian's young and perfect body is no longer enough to salvage his deteriorating mind and morality. Will justice and good prevail?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

When a brute of a man tramples an innocent girl, apparently out of spite, two bystanders catch the fellow and force him to pay reparations to the girl's family. The brute's name is Edward Hyde. A respected lawyer, Utterson, hears this story and begins to unravel the seemingly manic behavior of his best friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and his connection with Hyde.

The Count of Monte Cristo

On the eve of his marriage to the beautiful Mercedes, having that very day been made captain of his ship, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on a charge of treason, trumped up by jealous rivals. Incarcerated for many lonely years in the isolated and terrifying Chateau d'If near Marseille, he meticulously plans his brilliant escape and extraordinary revenge.

Audible Editor Reviews

American actor and audio superstar Frank Muller is known for authenticity of voices, outstanding interpretation, and sheer natural ability. His is a voice one could listen to forever - it's sonorous and mellow without any unpleasant raspiness. Perhaps Muller's narration is a bit fast, but the dramatic intensity and nuance keep one from losing meaning. His characterizations are superb, expecially those of the imperious Jaggers, the sniveling Orlick and the confounding Magwitch. Muller's great strength lies in his ability to project an ease of presentation that, when combined with his extraordinary emotional alertness, produces a most engaging effect. Surprisingly soft-spoken and confidential in tone, Muller's Pip seems to be talking directly to the listener. Dickens would have been pleased.

Publisher's Summary

When the young orphan called Pip encounters the escaped convict Magwitch, the child's life is altered forever - in ways he cannot even imagine. In the course of his story, Pip encounters such memorable characters as the eccentric Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward Estella - and a mysterious benefactor. This recording includes both of the endings Dickens wrote for this classic novel.

I was motivated to write this review in equal parts due to the brilliance of the story writing and the brilliance of the narrator. The narrator seemed to pick up on every nuance of Dickens' characters and bring them alive from the written page. I can think of no more rewarding way to enjoy this classic tale.

I never appreciated Dickens's Great Expectations until I listened to this reading. The humor and language is exceptionally good even for Dickens's high standards but what made it perfect was Frank Muller's reading of it. Well paced and excellent voices for all characters. Five stars to both the book and the reader.

I really enjoyed the different voices used by the narrator. It was more than just read. I checked out this book from the local library but needed it in my collection. This is one reason I signed up with audible.com

Don't get me wrong. This is classic Dickens, with incredible characterization and a masterfully woven plot. Plus, the narration absolutely could not be better. There are other good narrations of this story, but Frank Muller tops them all. I just don't care for the principal character. A number of times he knows the right thing to do but fails to do it. He suffers the consequences, but he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. Also it lacks a happy ending (in my opinion.) Both of these are unusual for Dickens. I find it unfortunate that many students are offered this as their introduction to Dickens, when it is so uncharacteristic in these ways. So if you are a Dickens fan, you definitely don't want to miss this one, and this by all means is the narrator to choose. It's just not one of my favorites that I listen to time and again.

This is by far the most satisfying audio book to which I have ever had the pleasure of listening. I love the way Dickens writes in the first place, but Frank Muller brings this book to life. I'm certain that I wouldn't have enjoyed the print version as much as the audio. I must have read it in school, a hundred years ago, but I don't remember any of it. I will never forget it now.

I absolutely loved this book. I thought the narration couldn't have been better and although at first I found myself to be a little lost, things soon started coming together. Dickens is a master at describing how a character looks, walks, thinks, and behaves as he describes these characteristics as though he was present and noticed each little intricacy. This is truly a "Great Book" and should be read/heard by all. It will definitely tweak your interest for another great book by Dickens - A Tale Of Two Cities.

Having listened to a number of audiobooks, this one has been my favorite. Dickens is a master of the written word and Muller does a wonderful job of narrating it. The narrator made the story easy to follow by the different intonations given to each character.

Frank Muller's tremendous, and I think he really has a feel for Dickens. This story kept my attention, and his use of voices rounds it out without being distracting. From Recorded Books, who can be counted on for the best readings.

I didn't realise when I chose this version that the reader was American, otherwise I might have chosen another one. Frank Muller's performance is engaging and warm, and generally I really enjoyed listening. The accent was occasionally annoying (a letter Z pronounced "zee" instead of "zed" stood out), and I have to say the various accents given to some of the characters were wildly off in terms of region, and also very inconsistent (Magwitch seemed to lurch from Dorset to Ireland via goodness knows where else). I also found the voicing of the female characters a bit off-putting. BUT if you can get past the accent issues, the story is told very well, with feeling and clarity.

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Mr

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom

10/29/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Expectations fulfilled"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's a great story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Great Expectations?

The scene in the graveyard at the start.

What does Frank Muller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I disagree with the comment in the review that Muller's narration is too fast, he just gives it a bit of bounce and energy, and the voices are great. I've sampled other narrators on the site for the same book and perhaps they're a bit too reverential of the material?

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Never trust a posh bird.

Any additional comments?

Slightly disappointed there were no space monkeys as in the South Park adaptation :)

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